DPS MP Tsonev Sees Link Between Frozen EU Funds, South Stream

Yordan Tsonev, MP from the liberal party DPS and Chair of the Parliamentary budget committee. Photo by BGNES

It is very possible that there is a link between the suspended regional development funds for Bulgaria and the South Stream gas pipeline, according to DPS MP Yordan Tsonev.

Although the official stance of the European Commission is that the funds have been frozen due to technical irregularities, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) lawmaker does not rule out a connection with the South Stream issue.

Bulgaria is facing procedures from the Commission regarding amendments to the status of the gas pipeline, which are not compatible with EU law. The government is also criticized for granting the tender of the pipeline's construction to a company linked with a Russian businessman who is on the US's sanctions list.

"The key here is not the price. It's in the norms and rules, regarding the Third Energy Package of the EU, which stipulates that third parties should have access to the offshore section of the pipeline, as well as that it cannot be owned by the provider of the gas", Tsonev told the Bulgarian National Television.

The MP added that his party supports the construction of the pipeline, as long as these conditions are met.

Tsonev also revealed that DPS would back the cabinet during the upcoming no-confidence vote, despite their leader Lyutvi Mestan's statement calling for early parliamentary elections.

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